The vast majority of the Romanian immigrants who were attacked by racist thugs last week are leaving Northern Ireland and returning to Romania.

Meanwhile, the City Church in Belfast where they sought shelter last Monday has been vandalized.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness strongly condemned the attack on the church. "It’s fair speculation given the fact that the church was so much in the media over the course of the last 10 days or so, that somebody just might have thought that it was a good idea to come and attack the church," said McGuinness.

"Now whatever the reasons, it is totally and utterly wrong, totally shameful and totally unacceptable.”

A total of 25 of the Romanians attacked last week have gone home and 74 more intend to do so in the coming days. An emergency fund was established to finance the Romanian immigrants travels costs home. Only 17 of those attacked plan to remain in Belfast.

The PSNI are holding five teenagers for last week's attacks and three men were arrested for the vandalism on the City Church.